Good times had at all-star games

Thursday

Jul 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 19, 2013 at 8:22 AM

Marc Edwards' Marc My Words column

Marc Edwards

Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star game got me reminiscing about some of the midsummer classics I attended in person. The first was 1988 when I was actually a member of the media and got an “all access pass” for everything in old Riverfront stadium in Cincinnati. The Reds had a special gala affair at the city’s zoo and I got to rub elbows with the likes of the Oakland A’s “Bash Brothers” — Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. There was also a media breakfast the Monday before the game and it was open seating at any table and I just happened to be seated next to Ted Sizemore. We had a great chat over sausage and waffles. The afternoon before the game I had a chance to sit in the National League dugout and got to talk with some of the Chicago Cubs’ all-stars. That was a great experience. The following year I was able to “snag” tickets just like the general public and was able to take six friends (they paid their own way) to Anaheim. We had the opportunity to watch the “Skills Competition” — a relay from outfielder to infielder to catcher to see who could record the shortest time. It was an alright event, but the fans wanted more, so it was replaced by the Home Run Derby in 1990. It was also the year I got my picture taken with Carl Yazstrzemki, who later that month would be enshrined in Cooperstown. I also have his autograph — he signed my ticket. It was also the year that if you weren’t in your seats in the first inning you missed Bo Jackson crush a home run to the rock pile at the “Big A.” I went to Toronto in 1991 at what was then known as the “Sky Dome.” FanFest was born that year and gave the fans a chance to sit in a dugout, have a Q&A will Hall of Famers and even have a photo of yourself put on a real Topps playing card, complete with statistics. In 1992 it was off to San Diego and FanFest was expanded moving to a much larger venue so more fans could attend. I have a VHS tape of me calling a game with actual footage and me doing the play-by-play. Baltimore hosted in 1993 and the host team had a home game before the break. The Orioles were playing the White Sox and I got a press pass for the game. Like so many others, the press box was full so I got a seat just below the box and was sitting right in front of Chris Meyers from ESPN, who also didn’t get a seat in the box, so I didn’t feel too slighted. I didn’t attend another one until 1998 when it was held in Coors Field in Denver. That was the year Bartonville native Jim Thome won the home run contest. My last one game was in Milwaukee. Frank Arnolts and his two sons — Tom and Frank — sat in the upper deck in left field at Miller Park. We had a great view of Tori Hunter taking away a home run from Barry Bonds. Every fan received a seat cushion with the All-Star logo on it, along with other memorabilia. It was the infamous 7-7 tie ballgame when both teams ran out of available pitchers to put in the game. It was also the year when no MVP was selected. That’s when Bud Selig went into next year’s game with the team getting home field advantage for the World Series for winning the all-star game. All in all it’s been a pretty good run of going to all-star games.